File No. 812.00/11658.
Chargé O’Shaughnessy
to the Secretary of State.
No. 2207.]
American Embassy,
Mexico City,
April 15, 1914.
Sir: Referring to my cablegram No. 842, of
April 11, 1 p.m., regarding the arrest of the American marines at the
port of Tampico, I have the honor to enclose to you herewith a
translation of the note in question.
I have [etc.].
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Chargé O’Shaughnessy.
Foreign Office,
Mexico,
April 10, 1914.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: As a complement of
the note I had the honor to address you this morning, and as a
result of the conference between you and myself of this date and of
the one we had with the President of the Republic, I
[Page 463]
beg to say that since you have
information, as you had the kindness to inform me, that the boat in
which the American marines were was flying the American flag the
President of the Republic has decided on the following: (1) That an
investigation be at once instituted in order to establish the
responsibility of Colonel Hinojosa; (2) that in accordance with the
course which the Mexican Government has always followed to comply
with its international duties with respect to all nations, you
should be and are by these presents informed that the incident is
deplored and that it resulted entirely from the misunderstanding of
an inferior officer thus relieving this Government of any
responsibility from the moment that the officer superior in rank to
Colonel Hinojosa proceeded at once to apply correctional discipline
within his power and to cause it to be known that no intention had
preceded the occurrence; (3) that if from the investigation that is
to be instituted it should appear that Colonel Hinojosa has incurred
a graver responsibility the proper penalty will be imposed upon him
by the authorities having legal jurisdiction to do so.
In view of this decision of the President it is to be hoped that your
Government Will consider that the incident has been closed in
accordance with the form required by the dignity of the two
nations.
You will be duly advised of the result of the investigation that is
to be made.
I renew [etc.]
